The disappointing campaign for Indian Greco-Roman wrestlers at the ongoing World Wrestling Championships in Astana persisted on Monday. Prominent names, including Asian Games bronze medallist Sunil Kumar along with two other grapplers, suffered early defeats in their respective weight categories and bowed out of the tournament in the opening round itself.
Early Exits for Sunil Kumar and Sahil
Expectations were high from Sunil Kumar, who recently etched his name in history by becoming the sole Indian wrestler to secure medals across two Asian Games. However, competing in the 87 kg division, he failed to find his rhythm on the mat. After being penalized with a par terre position due to passivity, Norway's Exauce Mukubu dominated the bout and handed him a technical superiority defeat with a 0-9 scoreline. The one-sided affair did not even last a full round, reflecting the struggle of the Indian contingent.
Disappointing Results Across Categories
Other Indian contenders in the Greco-Roman discipline also faltered under pressure. In the 63 kg category, Sahil faced a 0-7 defeat against Bulgaria's Edmond Armen Nazaryan during the qualifying round. Meanwhile, Sachin Sahrawat put up a fighting effort in the 67 kg class but narrowly lost 5-6 to South Korea's Hanjae Chung. Prior to these bouts, Lalit had come the closest to securing a podium finish for the nation in the 55 kg category, though he ultimately fell short in the bronze medal playoff.
